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67th Paris-Nice - HIS
France, March 8-15, 2009
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 7 - March 14: Manosque - Fayence, 191km
Complete live report
Live commentary by Bjorn Haake
Hello and welcome back to Cyclingnews' live coverage from what will be another exciting day in Paris-Nice. How do we know? Take a stage that is over 180 kilometres long and add nine mountain tops and you know you are in for a good day – if you are watching/reading the stage....
The riders may have different thoughts on the matter, but rarely get they asked their opinion on these things... Goof for us! Enjoy the day.
13:58 CET 121km/70km to go
We join the stage already in progress with 70 kilometres to go. A group of ten is currently two and a half minutes ahead of the Astana-led peloton.
14:00 CET Contador is happy in yellow - he eats - fittingly - a yellow banana and is all smiles doing so. Yesterday he said the day was tougher than he expected, but he did make the most of it...
14:02 CET
The climbs today are:
km 6.5 - Côte du Bois de Rousset - 4.3km long at 5.7% - cat 3
km 32.0 - Côte de Riez - 2.0km long at 4.8% - cat 3
km 96.0 - Côte de Taradeau - 2.1km long at 7.2% - cat 2
km 110.0 - Côte des Tuillières - 2.3km long at 7.8% - cat 2
km 118.5 - Col de Saint-Andrieux - 4.3km long at 5.1% - cat 2
km 126.0 - Col du Défens (D.955-D.19) - 3.9km long at 4.9% - cat 2
km 139.5 - Col de Saint-Arnoux - 7.0km long at 2.5% - cat 3
km 160.5 - Col de Bourigaille - 10.4km long at 5.1% - cat 1
km 165.0 - Côte de Mons - 1.8km long at 7% - cat 3
km 191.0 - Fayance - 2.1km long at 5% - cat 3
14:03 CET The biggest news of the day is that Samuel Sánchez has abandoned the race. The Euskaltel-Euskadi rider was seventh overall, 2:14 back. We don't know the reasons yet why he had to leave the race.
14:04 CET It is another sunny day in France as the road is reflecting in Contador's shades. The bunch is going up right, over a wide road with switchbacks. The pace is brisk.
14:11 CET Results of the first climbs and intermediate sprints of the day:
km 6.5 - Côte du Bois de Rousset:
Tony Martin (Team Columbia - Highroad) ahead of David Moncoutié (Cofidis, le crédit en ligne) and Matthieu Ladagnous (Française des Jeux)
The sprint in Riez was won by Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam), ahead of Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) and Chris Sørensen (Team Saxo Bank)
km 32.0 - Côte de Riez - 2.0km long at 4.8% - cat 3:
Tony Martin (Team Columbia - Highroad), Martin Velits (Team Milram), Chris Sørensen (Team Saxo Bank)
km 96.0 - Côte de Taradeau - 2.1km long at 7.2% - cat 2:
Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), Martin Velits (Team Milram)
km 110.0 - Côte des Tuillières - 2.3km long at 7.8% - cat 2:
Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Maxime Bouet (Agritubel), Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom)
km 118.5 - Col de Saint-Andrieux - 4.3km long at 5.1% - cat 2:
Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank)
14:13 CET One rider is lurking near the front and looking around to see what is going on. Don't be surprised if he attacks again today - if you are called Jens Voigt you have to live up to your name.
14:14 CET 129.5km/61.5km to go
Kevin Van Impe (Quick Step) takes some bottles for the team car, relaxing in the back, while Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel-Euskadi) has decided to go for a little walk off the front.
14:16 CET Isasi quickly gets a good hundred metres. We assume he wants to get some training in, which is hard to do in the bunch. Or he could have joined the break - they will get their workout today. At the moment they go down at breakneck speed, into Bargemon
14:17 CET
The result from the last climb:
km 126.0 - Col du Défens (D.955-D.19) - 3.9km long at 4.9% - cat 2
Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas), Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Maxime Bouet (Agritubel)
Current situation
- Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Karsten Kroon (Team Saxo Bank), Stéphane Augé (Cofidis, le crédit en ligne), Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) and Martin Velits (Team Milram)
- Peloton at 2.15
14:19 CET 133km/58km to go
The gap holds steady, between 2:15 and 2:30 for now.
Astana is still on the front of the peloton with less than sixty kilometres to go to the finish
14:20 CET The descent into Bargemon is quite interesting, with the switch backs very tight on the steep hill. The peloton now has also made it into the village. The gap has actually increased to three minutes
14:22 CET The break takes quick pulls, not more than five to ten seconds. They switch in a counter-clock wise rotation. It looks very smooth.
14:24 CET 136km/55km to go
The Ardoissier pulls up next to the Astana team (on their left) and shows the gap. We only saw the back side of the board, but assume it is still around three minutes.
In fact 3:09 is the gap now.
14:26 CET Jeremy Hunt (Cervélo TestTeam) is near the back. That's OK, he can relax. He will be needed in the fight for the green jersey, which virtually is back on Haussler' shoulders. He has now two points advantage over Lorenzetto.
14:26 CET The break is already on the next climb, the Col de Saint-Arnoux. There aren't many flats parts in-between.
14:28 CET Another Euskaltel rider goes off the front. We don't know if Isasi is back in the bunch, or if there is some kind of Saturday Euskaltel training ride scheduled. However, Astana doesn't think the oranginas need any more training and quickly pull the Euskaltel attack back.
14:28 CET 138km/53km to go
One km to go to the top for the break.
14:29 CET Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) lifts his hand, he wants some drink from his team car or maybe advice? The riders still pull through nice and smoothly, without an indication they will sprint for the points.
14:30 CET Horrach leads, but looks over his shoulder for some help. Less than 500m to the top.
14:31 CET 140km/51km to go
Horrach goes over the top ahead of Riblon and Pichot
14:32 CET The peloton is in a mountainous and forested area today. It is quite pretty, but the bunch doesn't see much. They do, however, see the 500m to go to the top sign.
14:34 CET
There is a bit of urgency in the peloton, as Hunt and a Cervélo TestTeam teammate hang off the back a bit.
It is Hayden Roulston, but the two manage to hang over the top, 2:14 behind the break
Current situation
- Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Karsten Kroon (Team Saxo Bank), Stéphane Augé (Cofidis, le crédit en ligne), Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) and Martin Velits (Team Milram)
- Peloton at 2.14
14:36 CET 144km/47km to go
Another one of the sinuous descents, with switchbacks that look like they are about 180 degrees...
The Cervélos still watch the back end of the peloton, so nobody can get lost here in the French mountains.
14:37 CET Isasi still seems to be out training, apparently some 50 secs behind the break. He wishes Saturday would be motorpace training day, but today he will have to do it by himself.
14:39 CET
We have heard the reasons from the Euskaltel team why Sammy Sánchez has abandoned. He suffered from a hit to his knee in stage 2, and yesterday's efforts in the queen stage have made things worse, so he decided to play it safe.
His knee was inflamed for the last few days. He stopped on the second climb of the day, when the pain was getting to be too much. Get well, Sammy.
14:40 CET The break reaches Seillans. Bad place for Haussler, who flats
14:40 CET He rolls along and keeps checking for his team car. It is nowhere to be seen...
14:42 CET
There it is, finally. The mechanic quickly replaces the back wheel and pushes Haussler off. He doesn't panic, as he he should get back easily.
The break approaches the sprint, good news for Haussler. They will take the points for the green jersey, leaving Haussler still two points ahead of Lorenzetto
14:43 CET Augé rolls over the sprint line ahead of Kreuziger
14:44 CET 150.5km/40.5km to go
Several soigneurs stand right after the sprint line and handle out bottles, Good that the break doesn't sprint, they may have missed their feed....
14:44 CET Riblon was the third guy over the line, just ahead of Pichot.
14:46 CET Velits attacks the front group in the beautiful town of Fayence. It is on top of a hill, with old houses and stone walls
14:46 CET Velits passes the flamme rouge. Hopefully he knows that there are some 39 more km before this flag counts as a flamme rouge, indicating the last kilometre of the race.
14:47 CET 152km/39km to go
Velits passes the finish line for the first time. No victory celebration, so he seems aware there is more work to do...
14:47 CET The break is about 16 secs back
14:48 CET
Velits passes a house still in construction. That wouldn't count as an old house...
Isasi passes a little more than 50secs behind Velits
Current situation
- Martin Velits (Team Milram)
- Christophe Riblon (AG2R La Mondiale), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Sébastien Joly (Française des Jeux), Karsten Kroon (Team Saxo Bank), Stéphane Augé (Cofidis, le crédit en ligne), Alexandre Pichot (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Joan Horrach (Team Katusha), Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) at 0.18
- Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi at 0.51
- Peloton at 1.45
14:51 CET Velits pushes hard on those pedals, grabbing the bar on the top of the brake levers and leaning his upper body over his top bar. He has around 20 secs still.
14:53 CET 154km/37km to go
Astana receives help from Cofidis and Quick Step on the front.
Velits's red helmet strap flaps in the wind. His face says that this is not a vacation in southern France for him.
More Quick Steppers have come to the front. Seeldraeyers is also there, in his white jersey of best young rider.
Martin drops back! Not good for the polka dot jersey to get dropped now.
A teammate is with him.
14:55 CET
Velits is heading up the Col de Bourigaille, a category one climb
Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) gets caught. He sat up from the break, after Velits attacked.
14:56 CET 156km/35km to go
The bunch is speeding up now, and the effects are seen. The peloton breaks in several smaller pieces.
14:57 CET
A group of about 12-14 riders is slightly ahead, led by Pereiro.
Contador is there, Popovych.
Haussler and Vogondy are dropped. So are several others, a long line of riders now on this mountain
14:58 CET Moreau is there as well as Evans and Chavanel. Moncoutié, Van den Broeck are also there
14:59 CET Eight riders ahead of the peloton now. Contador, Schleck and Voigt. Pereiro and LL Sánchez
15:00 CET They are still a minute behind Velits. The eight catch Flecha
15:00 CET Chavanel is also still there
15:00 CET Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) is also in the group.
15:01 CET Evans is working in the group behind, trying to get back
15:02 CET Colom and Seeldraeyers are also there in the group of nine. Velits is still ahead
15:03 CET 159km/32km to go
Kreuziger and Kroon get caught by the Contador group.
Evans is still leading the group behind
15:03 CET Colom attacks!!
15:03 CET
The Katusha rider goes right when Kreuziger and Kroon are caught.
Contador counters and the two lead now with 70m over the others
15:04 CET Contador/Colom is 34 secs behind Velits and 20 secs ahead of Evans. Quite a flurry if activity here
15:05 CET
Kroon is back in the Evans group.
Schleck and LL Sánchez have caught up with Contador/Colom
15:05 CET 159km/32km to go
Velits gets over the top in first
15:05 CET Colom attacks again!
15:06 CET He is quite a aggressive, but his compatriot Contador immediately joins him
15:06 CET Vande Velde has taken over some work from Evans in the chase group
15:07 CET 161km/30km to go
Velits turns around as he notices the cars being pulled behind him, indicating that the others are close. He can see coming through the right-hand turn
15:08 CET Schleck is dropped, as Velits hangs on to Contador.
15:08 CET Colom goes AGAIN!!
15:09 CET
The attack of Colom didn't put LL Sánchez and Contador in trouble, but Velits.
Schleck is still hanging in-between the groups
15:10 CET
So we have a group of three, with Contador, LL Sánchez and Colom leading the race, with 28km to go.
Velits is hanging onto Frank Schleck's wheel. The gap is probably around 10 secs.
15:11 CET Contador checks out Sánchez's bike from behind. What does he think of his gearing?
15:12 CET
Chavanel is together with Garcia Lopez and Kreuziger, slightly ahead of the Evans group
They are on the climb to Côte de Mons.
15:12 CET Schleck has dropped Velits, but his teammate Voigt is there to help!
15:13 CET Just after Schleck goes over the top, Voigt joins the Luxemburger and immediately takes a pull.
15:14 CET Sánchez was first over the top, ahead of Contador and Colom. But is now in the descent when Sánchez attacks!
15:14 CET 166km/25km to go
Schleck and Voigt are 17 secs behind the three leaders
15:16 CET
Schleck and Voigt share the work well on the descent, well they are teammates after all.
They can see the group ahead on the curvy road, but it will be difficult against the three Spaniards.
Sánchez is leading the front break
15:17 CET The descent is narrow - good thing that the roads are dry!
15:18 CET
The riders have hit the bottom of the descent.
LL Sánchez and Contador chat a little bit as they ride behind Colom.
This is Voigt's terrain, he takes strong pulls.
15:18 CET Chavanel has done a very good descent, he has caught up with the Saxo Bank pair.
15:19 CET 171km/20km to go
Chava goes to the front immediately. There was a bit of a flat, bit now they have more descending to do
15:20 CET Ohh, that looks hairy. The turns are tight, Voigt gets dragged out in left-hand bend all the way to the stone wall.
15:21 CET The second trio is 13 secs behind the first three now. This is sort of a three-man team time trial with two teams. One Spanish team and one German-Luxembourg-French mixed team...
15:22 CET Nope, Colom doesn't believe in time trialing - he attacks once again.
15:22 CET 173km/18km to go
But the others get back to him and LL Sánchez refuses to work. They wait for the other three
15:23 CET
As they join, Colom - who else - goes again!
Contador doesn't follow, that's a surprise!
15:23 CET
Sánchez tries to close the gap and this time Contador attacks.
Colom is caught
15:25 CET Sánchez attacks! That is quite amazing, they don't hold anything back
15:26 CET Contador digs deep to close the gap. The others hang on to the yellow jersey, they have a gap of 50m to LL Sánchez
15:26 CET 175km/16km to go
Good move by the Caisse rider, with all the attacks, there must be some tired legs now in the break.
Sánchez increases the gap a bit!
15:28 CET
The riders go through a forest - well the left side of the road is half clear cut
Contador still leads the chase. This looks good for Sánchez for now. 13km to go. He may not get yellow, but get closer in the overall.
15:29 CET 178km/13km to go
Schleck takes over some of the lead work behind. Quite a finale we have here today
Current situation
- Luis Leon Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
- Alberto Contador (Astana), Antonio Colom (Katusha), Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Fränk Schleck and Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) at 0.10
- Group with Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) and Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Evans, Seeldraeyers at 1.00
15:30 CET
Sánchez looks back over his right shoulder as he hugs the left curb. His lead increases!!!!
He has 18 secs, Contador must do most of the work. This is the first time that we have seen Contador in trouble in a while
15:31 CET
He has no friends either. He looks to Chava for help, but the Frenchman doesn't pull through.
Instead he attacks the Spaniard! Contador looks slightly annoyed.
15:32 CET 181km/10km to go
Chava takes a tight right hand in full speed, with all the risk. He gaps Contador a bit. The others sit behind the yellow jersey.
22 secs for LL Sánchez on the front.
15:34 CET
Contador has caught up with Chava, and passed him to lead on the descent.
That'll be interesting to see what they have to say after the stage today.
Less than 10km for LL Sánchez and now he has 40 secs!!!!
He is 1'13 behind in GC
Current situation
- Luis Leon Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne)
- Alberto Contador (Astana), Antonio Colom (Katusha), Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Fränk Schleck and Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) at 0.40
- Group with Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) and Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), Evans, Seeldraeyers at 1.00
15:34 CET Finally Chavanel pulls and so does Schleck.
15:35 CET 45 seconds now for LL Sánchez!!! He may get yellow after all, unless Contador can get the others to work as well, which for the moment he has managed to accomplished
15:36 CET LL Sánchez can also get a 10-sec time bonus over the line!!!
15:36 CET 186km/5km to go
LL Sánchez passes the 5km to go sign in one of his most important 'time trials' in his life.
51 secs!!!
15:37 CET Chavanel should now get a better idea of the tactics. He drops back to the team car and gets some instructions from his DS (directeur sportif)
15:38 CET Colom goes once again!!!
15:38 CET 187.5km/3.5km to go
The Spaniard gets a gap and Contador doesn't react.
But Voigt does!
15:39 CET
Good move by Saxo - Contador has to go after Colom and Voigt, but gets tired. Schleck and Chava attack Contador and DROP him!!!
Amazing day here in France
15:40 CET 188.5km/2.5km to go
Contador is dropped quickly, quite amazing.
LL has still 1.06 over the chasers.
Schleck, Voigt and Chava work together and are about 50m behind Colom
15:41 CET 189km/2km to go
LL has 1.10 on Contador or maybe more. He is on target for yellow!!
Colom is caught by the others
15:42 CET
Contador is isolated and loses more time.
1.20 now for Contador, so he has lost the jersey.
Voigt attacks!
15:42 CET 190km/1km to go
LL gets to the flamme rouge!!!
15:43 CET
Sánchez still looks good, holding the bar on the brake levers.
Voigt didn't get away, the four are still together
15:43 CET This must feel embarrassing for Contador, but he gets caught by the Evans group!
15:43 CET Caught? Not only that but dropped!!!!
15:44 CET A bad day in the office for the yellow jersey, probably a hunger knock
15:44 CET Contador tries to hang on to two Garmins...
15:45 CET LL arrives on the finish straight
15:45 CET He takes the stage victory, pointing both hands towards the sky
15:45 CET Voigt attacks, trying to set up a move for Schleck
15:45 CET There are still time bonuses...
15:46 CET Schleck doesn't get away and Colom takes the front. Schleck and Chava are behind, Voigt gets dropped
15:46 CET
Colom takes second, ahead of Schleck and Chavanel
Voigt comes in in fifth
15:48 CET
Contador loses 2.53!!!!
LL Sánchez is the new leader in the GC, with 1.09 over Chavanel.
15:51 CET
Contador stops after the finish and holds on to the barrier, not getting off his bike.
His soigneur comes over with a drink and some food. From all that we can tell, he would have needed that during the stage.
15:57 CET
Well, what a day it was. Who would have thought that Contador could brought into trouble today, but Luis Leon Sánchez sure managed to do it!
Here comes LL Sánchez out of one of the organiser's van, heading towards the podium. He has a bit of a cramp....
What a ride and still Paris-Nice isn't over. Join us again tomorrow for all the live action as the peloton heads to Nice for one last stage.
16:03 CET Chavanel receives the green jersey. So Haussler's sprint win in sprint one didn't help after all (but Chavanel's second place in that sprint and his fourth place today sure helped)
16:03 CET
Note that we will start tomorrow's live coverage earlier, around 13:00 CEST.
Hope you can join us then!
Provisional results
1 Luis Leon Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.43.34 2 Antonio Colom (Spa) Katusha 0.49 3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank 4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 5 Jens Voigt (Ger) Saxo Bank 0.56 6 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis 1.31 7 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence Lotto 9 Christophe Morea (Fra) Agritubel 10 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis General classification after stage 7 1 Luis Leon Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 28.05.45 2 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 1.09 3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank 1.21 4 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 1.50 5 Jens Voigt (Ger) Saxo Bank 1.59 6 Antonio Colom (Spa) Katusha 2.16 7 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quick Step 2.29 8 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Skil-Shimano 2.57 9 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3.37 10 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux 4.00
14:42 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: This is the day that will blow apart the peloton thanks to the two passages of the Montelupone climb. We are 80 kilometres from the finish. There is an escape, which went clear on the Passo di Cornell, has 4:00 on the main gruppo.
15:33 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: After three sprint stages, today is a day for climbers thanks to the Montelupone.
The gap is 3:10 at kilometre 140 to the five escapees of Giuseppe Palumbo (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Giampaolo Cheula (Barloworld), Jérôme Coppel (Française des Jeux) and Marcin Sapa (Lampre-NGC).
15:45 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: At the base of the first climb of Montelupone, -18.5km, Caisse d'Epargne leads for last year's winner Joaquím Rodríguez. The escape has just over two minutes.
15:49 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Garmin looks good one day after its stage win with Farrar. The team is working today for Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.
15:56 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Di Luca's LPR team has the gap down to 1:00 on the front five of Giuseppe Palumbo (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo), Johann Tschopp (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Giampaolo Cheula (Barloworld), Jérôme Coppel (Française des Jeux) and Marcin Sapa (Lampre-NGC).
16:03 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: A crash at 25 kilometres left splits the group. Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) and Riccardo Chiarini (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) are involved, but Loyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale) appeared to be worst off.
16:07 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Sapa loses contact from the other four escapees. The sprinters, like Cavendish and Petacchi, also lose contact as Montelupone nears.
16:15 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Alessandro Petacchi (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) pulls for his teammate Di Luca. The 1.75km Montelupone nears, the four men have 15". Simoni has a 29 mounted in the back, 39 up front.
16:27 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Montelupone: Simoni and Scarponi leads with Garzelli and Di Luca there too. (-15km)
16:31 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Montelupone: Simoni, the two-time Giro d'Italia winner leads Di Luca and Garzelli over the top to start the final 13.9 kilometres.
16:39 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) anticipates the final climb with an attack at seven kilometres to go. He is chased and joined by Daniele Pietropolli (LPR Brakes-Farnese Vini) and Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto).
16:40 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Simoni leads the peloton and catches the three men.
16:42 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: -2km and Hincapie leads for Thomas Lövkvist. The final climb starts.
16:48 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Joaquím Rodríguez fires. He has a big gap.
16:51 CET Tirreno-Adriatico update: Joaquím Rodríguez wins over Rebellin.
